Emotional Practices and Listening in Peacebuilding Partnerships: The Invisibility Cloak

This book explores how international peacebuilding practitioners' everyday emotions can hinder or help them listen more receptively to their local partners. It integrates critical feminist perspectives into practice approaches and offers practical recommendations for building emotional capacity to enhance listening skills. The author's expertise in political science and peace and conflict research makes it relevant to scholars in various fields.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 174 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book delves into the intricate realm of international peacebuilding practitioners' everyday emotions, exploring their role in shaping their ability to listen attentively to their local partners. By integrating critical feminist perspectives into practice approaches, it establishes 'emotional practices' as a valuable analytical concept. Recognizing that effective peacebuilding necessitates a deep understanding of local perspectives, the book challenges the notion that emotions hold little significance, particularly among the privileged international actors involved in peacebuilding partnerships.

Drawing from extensive interviews with peacebuilding practitioners, donors, and researchers across various regions, including the Balkans, East Africa, the UK, the US, and Sweden, the book offers a comprehensive and pragmatic account of the daily dilemmas faced in the realm of listening and partnerships. Author Johansson provides practical recommendations for individuals, organizations, and geopolitically situated actors to enhance their emotional capacity, thereby improving their ability to engage meaningfully with local actors.

With a background in political science and peace and conflict research, this volume appeals to scholars across a wide range of disciplines, including international relations, political theory, sociology, cultural studies, development studies, critical theory, and anthropology. By shedding light on the emotional dimensions of international peacebuilding, the book contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the complex dynamics and challenges involved in fostering sustainable peace and development.

Weight: 335g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032060514